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Cattle & Bison

What is Official Cattle ID in Indiana?
The Indiana State Board of Animal Health (BOAH) recognizes three forms of identification as official for cattle and bison. All are approved by USDA for interstate movements of livestock.

840 Tags
- May or may not be an RFID (radio frequency device)
- 15 digits, beginning with "840" with US shield

NUES (brite) Tags
- National Uniform Ear Tagging System
- Steel or plastic options for cattle must include US shield

Official USDA Program Tags
- Such as orange calfhood vaccination tags

(NOTE: USDA backtags are considered official within slaughter channels.)

Movements of Cattle & Bison

Cattle entering Indiana must be accompanied by documentation and bear official ID (as recognized by BOAH). For other cattle entry requirements go to: www.in.gov/boah/2395.htm.

Official ID required for:
-All sexually intact, 18 months or older
-All dairy breed females (including crosses)
-All dairy breed bulls and steers (including crosses) born after 3-11-13Exceptions: -Animals moving directly to a slaughter facility
-Animal moving directly to an approved market, where the animal will be
ID'edDocumentation required: -Pre-entry permit from BOAH
-Certificate of Veterinary Inspection written within 30 days of entryExceptions:
-Direct-to-slaughter
-Direct to an approved market
-Veterinary care (no ownership change)Does not include embryotransplants
-Passing through the state

Upon change of ownership, and for exhibitions and rodeos, Indiana cattle must have official ID and may need documentation.

Always call ahead to the state-of-destination for cattle moving out of Indiana.

Official ID:-Cattle and bison that meet Indiana's ID requirements will meet the ID
requirements for all states, based on USDA's ADT rules.Official ID:
-840s
-NUES tags
-USDA program tagsDocumentation:-Call ahead to ask specific details about required documentation.
USDA recognizes Certificates of Veterinary Inspection for
inter-state movements.Questions: -What is the time limit on CVIs?
-Is a pre-entry permit required?
-Other requirements, such as tests?

Obtaining ID Tags

Hoosiers have several options for obtaining official ID:

Veterinarians: Some practitioners will supply tags. This is especially useful to producers who need only a few, such as 4-Hers. Note: Producers may apply the tags themselves; a veterinarian is not required to administer non-program tags.

Official Tagging Sites:In Indiana, all licensed livestock markets are considered tagging sites. However, the market may or may not provide this service on animals not moving through the facility. Likewise, all animals that move through a given market must be tagged in some manner upon arrival, if the animal does not already bear official ID.

NOTE: A state-issued premises ID number is required to order official identification.

More information about federal standards for official ID is available on the USDA Traceabilitywebpage.

Important Notes About Tags

Obtaining Tags
A premises ID number issued by BOAH is required to order official ID tags. The premID is necessary to link the tags to a specific location--usually the animals' point-of-origin. Once assigned to a specific premise, the tags CANNOT be transferred to another farm or operation. Those who have cattle on multiple locations should request different tags for each premise.

Under federal law, 840 tags can only be used in American-born livestock. Removal of tags is unlawful once they have been placed in an animal, because they are official U.S. government identification.

Tag Removal/Loss
Under federal law, 840 tags can only be used in American-born livestock. Removal of tags is unlawful once they have been placed in an animal, because they are official U.S. government identification.

If an animal loses an official ID tag, another official ID may be applied. The producer should note the date and reason the new tag was placed, as well as the ear tag number(s) of the old and new ID in the farm's records. This is important information, should an animal/farm be involved in a disease trace.

Tag Placement
Official identification for cattle can come in several different forms. Indiana allows the use of RFID tags, and plastic and metal ear tags. (Some producers may choose to use tattoos; however, Indiana will no longer recognize them as official ID beginning in 2015.) Additionally, some producers choose to add identification for their own farm's record-keeping system.